21st Regular Session of the Commission

Reports from the Commission’s 2024 meetings of the subsidiary bodies will be presented, focusing on recommendations requiring action by the Commission. The Summary Report from the 2nd Science-Management Dialogue (SMD02) will be taken as read and discussions will focus on harvest strategy papers presented by the WCPFC Scientific Services Provider (SSP).

Recommendations from the 2024 subsidiary body meetings will be considered in Plenary session. The Commission will discuss whether any recommendations require further consideration through a small working group at WCPFC21. All Summary Reports from the 2024 subsidiary body meetings and the SMD02 will be adopted under Agenda Item 9. 

The order of presentations will be as follows, with opportunities for questions and discussions following each presentation: 

1. Status of the WCPO Stocks will be presented by the WCPFC Scientific Services Provider (SSP) and International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean (ISC). The Evaluation of the Tropical Tuna Measure contained in WP34 will also be presented at this time.
2. NC20 and NC20/2 Outcomes will be presented by the NC Chair for consideration and adoption by the Commission (link to NC20 Summary Report and NC20/2 Summary Report). Proposed new or amended CMMs from the Northern Committee are in WP33.
3. SC20 Outcomes not covered by other Agenda Items will be presented by the SC Chair for consideration and adoption by the Commission. The SC20 Summary Report is available on the SC20 meeting webpage.
4. Harvest Strategies: The SSP will present four working papers (WP29, WP30, WP31, and WP32), to be followed by plenary discussions. The outcomes contained in the reference paper at WP10 from SC20, SMD02, and TCC20 relating to Harvest Strategy issues (SP-ALB, BET/YFT, SKJ) will be taken as read.
   • The Harvest Strategy Workplan will be considered electronically throughout the meeting and adopted under Agenda Item 9. (link to current indicative Harvest Strategy Workplan adopted at WCPFC20.) 
5. TCC20 Outcomes that are not covered by other Agenda Items will be presented by the TCC Chair for consideration and adoption by the Commission.
   • The 2025 IUU Vessel list found in WP11a will be presented here, along with updates to the VMS SOPs in WP11b, both outcomes of TCC20. 
   • During this session, the TCC Chair will also present WP11c TCC Workplan 2025 - 2027, and the TCC Vice-Chair will be invited to present WP11d Draft Audit Points for consideration and adoption by WCPFC21.
   • TCC20 also recommended that the Commission renew CMM 2021-04 on Charter Notifications, which is set to expire on 28 February 2025, and a proposed revised CMM is found at WP11f.
6. Impacts of climate change on WCPO fisheries will be presented by the SSP, followed by a presentation from the climate change co-leads on the outcomes from the Commission’s 2024 intersessional work relating to the development of a Climate Change Workplan. The co-leads will also provide an update on the draft Terms of Reference for the assessment of CMM susceptibility to the impacts of Climate Change.

Please see the Latest Schedule that is linked on front page of the WCPFC21 meeting webpage for more information.